About 15 Hindu students were injured in Pakistan after members of a radical Islamic student organization allegedly prevented them from celebrating Holi on the grounds of Punjab University. Holi, a festival of colors, is celebrated to mark the beginning of spring.
The incident took place at the Law College of Punjab University on Monday, when about 30 Hindu students gathered to celebrate Holi. “As students gathered on the lawns of the law school, Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) activists violently stopped them from celebrating Holi, leading to a clash in which 15 Hindu students were injured,” says Kashif Brohi, a university student and an eyewitness. said.
They had received prior approval from the university administration, Brohi claimed. Khet Kumar, who suffered injuries to his hand, said the university guards beat them when they staged a demonstration outside the vice chancellor’s office to protest the treatment by IJT members.
“We have filed a complaint with the police against the IJT and the guards involved in beating and torturing us, but FIR has not yet been registered,” said Kumar. When contacted by PTI, IJT (Punjab University) spokesman Ibrahim Shahid denied the involvement of his students in the incident.
“None of the students involved in a brawl with the Hindu students belong to the IJT,” he said, adding that the IJT-organized ‘Quran Reading’ at the law school. Punjab University spokesperson Khurram Shahzad told PTI that the university administration had not given permission for Holi celebrations to be held on the law school lawns.
“There wouldn’t have been any problem if the celebrations had been held indoors,” he said. Shahzad added that the VC has ordered an investigation into the matter.
(with input from PTI)
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